Special imaging primarily means advanced MRI techniques used for qualitative and quantitative measurement of biological metabolism as e.g., spectroscopy, perfusion imaging (PWI, ASL), diffusion weighted imaging (DWI, DTI, DTT) and brain function (BOLD, fMRI). This physiological magnetic resonance techniques offer insights into brain structure, function, and metabolism.
Spectroscopy provides functional information related to identification and quantification of e.g. brain metabolites. MR perfusion imaging has applications in stroke, trauma, and brain neoplasm. MRI provides the high spatial and temporal resolution needed to measure blood flow to the brain. arterial spin labeling techniques utilize the intrinsic protons of blood and brain tissue, labeled by special preparation pulses, rather than exogenous tracers injected into the blood.
MR diffusion tensor imaging characterizes the ability of water to spread across the brain in different directions. Diffusion parallel to nerve fibers has been shown to be greater than diffusion in the perpendicular direction. This provides a tool to study in vivo fiber connectivity in brain MRI.
FMRI allows the detection of a functional activation in the brain because cortical activity is intimately related to local metabolism changes.

See also Diffusion Tensor Tractography.

From Millennium Technology Inc. This open C-shaped MRI system eases patient comfort and technologist maneuverability. This low cost scanner is build for a wide range of applications. The Virgo™ patient table is detachable and moves on easy rolling castors. Able to accommodate patient weights up to 160 kg, the tabletop has a range of motion of 30 cm in the lateral direction and 90cm in the longitudinal direction. Images generated with this scanner can only be viewed (without data loss) on Millennium's proprietary viewing software.

ABLAVAR™ (formerly named Vasovist™) is a blood pool agent for magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), which opens new medical imaging possibilities in the evaluation of aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) in patients with suspected peripheral vascular disease.
ABLAVAR™ binds reversibly to blood albumin, providing imaging with high spatial resolution up to 1 hour after injection, due to its high relaxivity and to the long lasting increased signal intensity of blood.
As with other contrast media: the possibility of serious or life-threatening anaphylactic or anaphylactoid reactions, including cardiovascular, respiratory and/or cutaneous manifestations, should always be considered.

WARNING:
NEPHROGENIC SYSTEMIC FIBROSIS Gadolinium-based contrast agents increase the risk for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) in patients with acute or chronic severe renal insufficiency (glomerular filtration rate less than 30 mL/min/1.73m²), or acute renal insufficiency of any severity due to the hepato-renal syndrome or in the perioperative liver transplantation period.

See also Cardiovascular Imaging, Adverse Reaction, Molecular Imaging, and MRI Safety.

From Hitachi Medical Systems America Inc.;
the AIRIS II, an entry in the diagnostic category of open MR systems, was designed by Hitachi Medical Systems America Inc. (Twinsburg, OH, USA) and Hitachi Medical Corp. (Tokyo) and is manufactured by the Tokyo branch. A 0.3 T field-strength magnet and phased array coils deliver high image quality without the need for a tunnel-type high-field system, thereby significantly improving patient comfort not only for claustrophobic patients.

Developed by GE Lunar; the ARTOSCAN™-M is designed specifically for in-office musculoskeletal imaging. ARTOSCAN-M's compact, modular design allows placing within a clinical environment, bringing MRI to the patient. Patients remain outside the magnet at all times during the examinations, enabling constant patient-technologist contact. ARTOSCAN-M requires no special RF room, magnetic shielding, special power supply or air conditioning.
The C-SCAN™ (also known as Artoscan C) is developed from the ARTOSCAN™ - M, with a new computer platform.